Family CRAMBIDAE
Subfamily Acentropinae
Hygraula nitens is found across most of Australia. We have seen this moth from September to April.
Larval foodplant
Hygraula nitens is a Pond Moth which means, surprisingly, the larvae live underwater, in stagnant fresh water inland and in brackish estuaries on the coast. They possibly breed in our small rainforest pond or in the local creeks. They have gills in the form of filaments protruding from the body for breathing underwater. They feed on underwater plants and build a portable protective case of pieces of plants to live in.
They pupate underwater and when the moth hatches, despite not having gills, it has to swim to the surface to fly away. It also lays its eggs underwater somehow swimming to the bottom of the pond or creek.
Reference https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/acen/nitens.html
